Back-to-school is hectic. Parents are essentially taking on a second job to pack lunches, chauffeur kids to practice, and help with homework as their children embark on a new year of education. To help make your transition from summer to back-to-school smoother, it’s essential to have a clean and organized home, free from germs and stress. Our experts have gathered some tips to make sure your home stays clean for the fall season.

Cleansing your refrigerator, inside and out

Refrigerators are most widely used for messy events such as breakfast, lunch packing, and serving dinner. There are several steps you should take in order to clean the area properly. The first step is to empty everything out of the fridge and set it on your countertop. Anything expired should be thrown away. Grouping food categories together can make it easier to organize. Remove all shelves and drawers and wash them with a clean sponge in warm water with soap. Spray the interior walls with a multipurpose cleaner and use a non-abrasive sponge and a toothbrush for the hard to reach crevices. Wipe down all jars and bottles with a dampened cloth as well. Then, re-insert all shelves and food items by groups. Your refrigerator will be sparkling and will make it easy to prepare meals!

Doorknobs should never be ignored

Doorknobs are considered a major hot spot for germs but are often overlooked. This means most likely, your doorknobs are harvesting some dangerous bacteria. Children constantly bring germs home with them, which is why sanitizing all knobs including bathroom and bedroom doors, and appliance doors will mitigate the risk of getting sick. Since doorknobs come in many different styles of metals, such as brass, steel, or iron, it is best to use luke-warm water with soap coupled with a microfiber cloth.

Sponges only work if they’re clean too

We rely on sponges daily to clean our homes but what you may not realize is that a sponge can contain grease, dirt, and even pathogens such as salmonella and campylobacteria. It is recommended to switch out kitchen sponges every other week and wash sponges once a month. There is also a simple solution by disinfecting your sponges in the dishwasher. This will get rid of germs that otherwise would have lingered on your sponges before switching to a new set.

 Towel racks are littered with germs

Think about it. All summer you’ve been using towels after hot days outside at the beach, pool, or park. Even if you regularly clean your towels, the damp nature of used towels on your towel rack can grow mold and mildew which dirties your freshly laundered ones. To wash your towel rack, use a baking soda/vinegar solution while wiping it down with a microfiber cloth. Once cleaned, wipe it again with water and dry it with a soft cloth to avoid rusting.

The back-to-school season is one of the busiest times of year for parents. If you’re a busy parent, don’t forget to follow these tips for a fresh start to the school year. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a business owner, or commercial cleaning franchise, please contact Judy Walker, judy@anagocleaning.com